To ask the Prime Minister when she next expects to pay an official visit to Bradford.

I have at present no plans to do so.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will make it her policy that the time horizon of between 10 and 15 years for the 100 per cent. phase-out of methyl chloroform be used by Her Majesty's Government as a base starting point for agreement at the Montreal protocol meetings due to take place in London later this month.

It is the Government's policy ultimately to phase out all ozone-depleting substances. However, it is impossible at this stage to predict whether safe substitutes for all uses of methyl chloroform will be found within the next 10 or 15 years.

To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to her answer, Official Report, 24 May, column 286, if she has any plans to make funds available from the Cabinet Office vote for political advisers to the leaders of all political parties with parliamentary representation.

No. I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave on 5 June at column 397.

To ask the Prime Minister whether she will take steps to ensure that departmental Ministers have sufficient staff to reply to hon. Members' lettes within an acceptable span of time; and whether it is in accordance with her policy that a letter to the Secretary of State for Health dated 27 February should be answered on 6 June.

Long delays in replying to correspondence from Members of Parliament can rarely be justified. The Department of Health has introduced major changes in the national health service which have generated a great deal of public interest. Revised procedures have now been implemented to help in dealing with the large increase in correspondence. My hon. Friend will recall that I announced on 29 March a review of the handling of correspondence across all Departments.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 14 June.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 14 June.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 14 June.

This morning I presided at a meeting of the Cabinet and had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House, I shall be having further meetings later today. This evening I shall be hosting a dinner at Downing street in honour of Sir Sonny Ramphal, Secretary General of the Commonwealth.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will list those countries to which she has paid an official visit in each of the last 11 years, indicating in each case whether the visit was followed by an oral statement to the House.

I have paid an official visit to the following countries in the past 11 years:

	Country
1979
June	France
June–July	Australia
October	Italy, Luxembourg, West Germany
December	United States
1980
May	Yugoslavia
September	France, Greece, Yugoslavia
November	Italy, West Germany
December	Irish Republic
1981
February	Netherlands, United States
April	India, Saudi Arabia
September	Bahrain, Kuwait
October	United Arab Emirate, Oman, Qatar, Pakistan, Mexico
November	West Germany
1982
July	Italy
September	China, Hong Kong India, Japan
October	West Germany
November	France
1983
January	Falkland Islands
September	Netherlands, Canada, United States
November	West Germany, India
December	Greece (twice)
1984
January	France, Italy
February	Hungary, Soviet Union
March	Belgium
April	Portugal
May	France
June	France
November	India, France
December	Irish Republic, China, Hong Kong, United States
1985
February	United States
March	Soviet Union, Belgium
April	Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, Saudi Arabia
May	West Germany
June	Italy
July	United States

	Country
September	Egypt, Jordan
October	Bahamas, United States
November	Belgium
December	Luxembourg
1986
January	France
March	Italy
May	South Korea, Japan, Israel
June	Netherlands
July	Canada
September	Norway, West Germany
November	United States, France
December	France
1987
March	Soviet Union
June	Italy, Belgium
July	United States, Jamaica, France
September	West Germany
October	Canada
November	France
December	Denmark
1988
January	Kenya, Nigeria
February	Belgium (twice)
April	Turkey
June	France, Canada, West Germany
August	Bahrain, Oman, Singapore, Australia, Malaysia, Thailand, UAE (stopover)
October	Italy
November	Poland, United States, France
1989
Februrary	West Germany, France
March	Morocco, Nigeria (stopover), Zimbabwe, Malawi
April	West Germany, Namibia
May	Luxembourg, Belgium
June	Spain
July	France
September	Japan, Soviet Union
October	Malaysia, Qatar (stopover)
November	United States, France
December	Belgium, France
1990
January	France
April	Bermuda, Turkey, Irish Republic
June	Soviet Union

Oral statements to the House are made whenever appropriate.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health which pharmaceutical companies are presently importing factor VIII concentrates into the United Kingdom; and if he will list each company's share of the market.

For reasons of confidentiality, the information held by the Medicines Licensing Authority about pharmaceutical companies importing Factor VIII concentrate cannot be divulged.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans or studies have been made by his Department to assess what measures would have to be taken in the event of contamination by airborne plutonium resulting from a nuclear weapons accident on board a Royal Navy ship docked at Greenwich.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans or studies have been made by his Department to assess what measures would have to be taken in the event of contamination by airborne plutonium resulting from a nuclear weapons accident on board a Royal Navy ship docked at Greenwich.

I refer the hon. Members to the reply my hon. Friend the Minister of State for the Armed Forces gave the hon. Members for Newham, North-West (Mr. Banks) and Islington, South and Finsbury (Mr. Smith) on 8 June at column 724. The contingency plans referred to cover action necessary by all relevant Government Departments and public bodies, including this Department and health authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what arrangements for access to information and expertise his Department has with the Gracewell clinic for rehabilitating sexual offenders; and if he will make a statement.

We are aware of the work undertaken by the Gracewell clinic; officials have recently visited the organisation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has of the percentage of children who are sexually abused.

Information is not available centrally in the form requested. The information collected centrally relates to the number of children who are on the child protection registers who have been categorised as "sexually abused". The latest information available relates to the year ending 31 March 1989 and is published in the provisional feedback "Children and Young Persons on Child Protection Registers England 1989". Copies are available in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what contact his Department has with Governments in America, Australia and the EEC regarding their experience in the creation and running of national institutes for research into child sexual abuse.

The Department does not have direct contact with overseas Governments concerning their research programmes into child sexual abuse. Professional staff within the Department keep in touch with research abroad as appropriate and researchers from departmentally funded programmes and units have contact from time to time with overseas counterparts.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the amount of money being spent by Government Departments on research into the sexual abuse of children (a) at May 1989 and (b) currently; and if he will make a statement.

The following amounts were allocated by Government Departments for research into child sexual abuse.

	1989–90 £	1990–91 £
Department of Health	92,000	125,000
Home Office	72,000	32,000
Social Work Services Group (Scottish Office)	17,000	52,000
Total	181,000	209,000

In addition, the Department of Health funds a number of projects covering both sexual and physical abuse of children. The cost of these projects in 1990–91 is £221,000 which brings the total to £430,000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what review has been made of the gathering of information on medical accidents; if he will regularly publish statistics about the incidence of claims and settlements or awards achieved; and if he will make a statement.

No review has been made of the gathering of information on medical accidents. When the health authority indemnity for medical negligence was introduced on 1 January 1990, the Department asked health authorities for an annual return of the number of claims of medical negligence, the number of such cases settled, and the total cost of the settlements reached or awards made. The returns for the period to 31 March 1990 are now being received. No decision has been taken on publishing any statistics.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how he intends to monitor and assess hospital complaints, family practitioner committee complaints, and the procedures at the General Medical Council and other related professional bodies.

Complaints made about the services provided in NHS hospitals are monitored by health authorities as required in directions made under section 17 of the National Health Service Act 1977; Family practitioner committees are obliged by regulations to forward reports to the Secretary of State. In addition, the Health Service Commissioner provides an independent assessment of the handling of complaints by health authorities and publishes his report annually.The General Medical Council is an independent statutory body whose procedures are governed by the Medical Act 1983. The council publishes annually a summary of cases considered by its disciplinary Committees. The Department is not routinely informed by professional bodies of complaints which they receive.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health in the assessment made as to the closure of the Sheppey general hospital, what regard was paid to questions of (a) population influx in the summer months, (b) future housing development, (c) the nature of access to the island and (d) the availability of an ambulance service.

Medway health authority has no plans to close Sheppey general hospital.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the report of the inquiry into the circumstances leading to the death of Mr. Joseph Watts, a patient at Broadmoor hospital.

Further to the reply of my hon. Friend, the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health to the hon. Member for Huddersfield (Mr. Sheerman) on 25 April 1990 at column 219, I welcome the intention of the Special Hospitals Service Authority to make the report widely available. I have arranged for copies of the report, with the authority's response, to be placed in the Library.The authority shares many of the concerns of the inquiry team and has ensured that action on the report's recommendations is well in hand. The inquiry team produced an authoritative, comprehensive and constructive report. I am grateful to its chairman and members for the thorough way in which they approached their work.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many new attendances at ophthalmic clinics were recorded in each quarter of 1988–89 and 1989–90 in each district health authority area in England.

Information about consultant out-patient activity is not available centrally on a quarterly basis. Details of the numbers of new referral attendances for all consultant out-patient clinics are published annually and copies of these summaries for 1987–88 and 1988–89 will be placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the special increment for teaching paid to each medical and dental school in England; and what that sum represents per student.

The service increment for teaching—SIFT—is allocated to regional health Authorities to compensate hospitals for the additional service costs incurred through providing clinical facilities for undergraduate medical and dental education and research. In 1990–91, SIFT amounted to £343 million in total. It is allocated to RHAs according to numbers of undergraduate medical and dental students, at rates of £32,017 per medical student and £12,764 per dental student in 1990–91. For students in London, these figures attract a 9 per cent. weighting.RHAs should distribute SIFT to specific hospitals according to a range of factors, taking advice from universities, and other research interests as appropriate. Information on sub-regional distribution is not collected centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will instruct regional health authorities to commission an opinion poll survey of the local population in each area where there is a proposal to establish a self-governing trust, in order to determine their views about such a proposal.

No. Successive Governments have never thought it sensible for changes in management of NHS services to be subject to opinion polls. When formal applications for NHS trust status are made, following parliamentary approval of the necessary legislation, regions will seek the views of the local community, community health councils and other parties with an interest, on individual proposals before any decisions are made.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the total cost to his Department of commissioning the NOP survey on sight tests.

The cost of the survey is a commercial matter between the Department of Health and NOP.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions have taken place between his officials and representatives of the pharmaceutical industry about setting up a drug damage compensation scheme for victims of drug side-effects which have become apparent some years after a drug was first prescribed.

No such discussions have taken place.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, further to his answer of 31 January, Official Report, column 231, what progress has been made by the research project reviewing the possible connections between BSE and Creutzfeld-Jakob disease; and what information he has on the common properties of the two diseases.

After detailed planning the Department of Health has recently commissioned the neuropathology component of the study which my hon. Friend the then Parliamentary Under Secretary of State announced in a reply to the hon. Member for Don Valley (Mr. Redmond) on 31 January at column 231. The two diseases Creutzfeld-Jakob Disease, a spongiform encephalopathy in humans, and bovine spongiform encephalopathy are both fatal, progressive, neurological disorders and have a large number of common properties.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has received seeking further aid to Vietnam; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Broxtowe (Mr. Lester) on 17 May about the provision of aid support for NGO activities in Vietnam. Since then I have received no representations seeking further aid for Vietnam.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what percentage of the population at risk from famine in Ethiopia he estimates can be reached by the southern supply route of the joint relief partnership.

From the start of the southern line operation on 20 March up to 3 June, 16,030 tonnes of food were delivered to northern Wello and Tigray. As damaged roads are repaired and additional transport capacity becomes available—in both of which areas Britain is providing assistance—the joint relief partnership hopes to build up deliveries towards its monthly target figure of 14,500 tonnes. This should be sufficient to feed just over 1 million people or perhaps a quarter of the total number at risk in northern Ethiopia.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many new irrigation projects he is currently supporting in the third world; and if he will make a statement.

We are currently funding 11 major irrigation projects, of which seven are in Pakistan and one in each of Bangladesh, Indonesia, Sudan and Zimbabwe. The total value of our support for these products over their duration is just under 100 million. We are also funding irrigation research with a total value of 3 million. Some of our wider programmes also include an irrigation component, but it would be disproportionately costly to collate this information.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on the Government's plans to help developing countries with their environmental programmes.

To promote sustainable economic growth and meet developing countries' diverse needs, our help covers a wide range including population programmes, energy efficiency, conserving biodiversity, natural resource management and the promotion of environmental awareness among other subjects.Our policies are set out in a new booklet, "The Environment and the British Aid Programme", a copy of which has been placed in the Library. I have arranged for a copy to be sent to my hon. Friend.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list all United Kingdom contributions to the international service for national agricultural research made since 1980.

Our contributions to the International Service for National Agricultural Research (ISNAR) since 198() have been as follows:

Financial year	Contribution £
1979–80	15,000
1980–81	50,000
1981–82	50,000
1982–83	100,000
1983–84	120,000
1984–85	120,000
1985–86	120,000
1986–87	130,000
1987–88	135,000
1988–89	142,000
1989–90	140,000
1 1990–91	140,000
1 Planned.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans or studies have been made by his Department to assess measures that would have to be taken in the event of contamination by airborne plutonium resulting from a nuclear weapons accident aboard a Royal Navy ship docked at Greenwich with regard to children at schools in the area.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Islington, South and Finsbury (Mr. Smith) on 11 June 1990, Official Report, column 22.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when the hon. Member for Ravensbourne may expect an answer to his letters of 2 April, 4 April and 4 June and his telephone calls of 10 May, 16 May and 22 May relating to the case of Mr. Peter Hunt; and what are the reasons for the delays in his Department's handling of this case.

I wrote to my hon. Friend on 12 June apologising for the delay in replying to his letter of 2 April. In considering Mr. Hunt's case it was necessary for the Department to make inquiries of Bromley local education authority. The facts of the case were then given very careful consideration within the Department.The final decision was communicated as soon as possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give the reasons for the delay in his Department's approving, via committee B of the universities' negotiating machinery, the vice-chancellors' offer of a 9 per cent. pay increase, accepted by university academic and related staff on 11 May; and what steps he is taking to expedite the process of ratification.

There has been no unnecessary delay. The Government are giving careful consideration to the salary increases for university non-clinical academic and related staff proposed in the 25th report of committee A of the universities academic salaries committees.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he proposes to publish his Department's policy review of the Council for National Academic Awards.

The review has now been completed and I am publishing the report today. Copies have been placed in the Library. The report contains a number of important recommendations, on which I am seeking the views of interested parties. These have been requested by 14 September. My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales will be arranging parallel consultations in Scotland and Wales. I shall announce the Government's response to the report in due course after these consultations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list in the Official Report in tabular form, details of all research into meningitis being supported by the Medical Research Council, indicating (a) the location of the research work, (b) the precise nature of the research project and (c) its tenure.

[holding answer 11 June 1990]: The Medical Research Council, which receives a grant in aid from this Department, is supporting the following research projects on meningitis:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the firms in the Mid-Ulster area which are registered with the Northern Ireland Fair Employment Agency in Strabane district council, Omagh district council and Cookstown district council areas; and what are the number of employees in each and the Fair Employment Agency religious break-down of each.

The firms listed are those in the Strabane, Omagh and Cookstown district council areas which have been registered by the Fair Employment Commission. The total number of employees is shown alongside the name of the firm.The Fair Employment Commission is not releasing information on community composition from individual monitoring returns at present.

Firms registered with FEC and number of employees in each case Strabane District Council Area
	Numbers
Adria Limited
Beechmount Avenue
Strabane
County Tyrone
BT82 9BG	1,085
Ballantine A.S. Limited
Aughafad Quarrry
Donemana
County Tyrone
BT82 0SB	32
Leckpatrick Dairies Limited
Artigarvan
Strabane
County Tyrone
BT82 0HN	346
Linton and Robinson Limited
Abercorn Square
Strabane
BT82 8DH	48
Melmount Community Care Limited
6 Ballycolman Avenue
Strabane
County Tyrone
BT82 9AF	130
Millar L. J.
25 Seein Road
Sion Mills
Strabane
County Tyrone	39

	Numbers
Porter H. G. & Company Limited
Abercorn Factory
Derry Road
Strabane
BT82 8DX	115
Strabane Community Project
St. Josephs Centre
Springhill
Strabane
BT82 8HT	42
Ardstraw Parish Community Scheme
The Rectory
2 Bunderg Road
Newtownstewart
County Tyrone
BT78 4NQ	29
Herdmans Limited
11 Mill Avenue
Sion Mills
County Tyrone
BT82 9HE	760
Linian Knitwear Limited
Spamount Mills
Castlederg
County Tyrone
BT81 7NB	33
McGolgan Brothers Ltd.
Dublin Road Industrial Estate
Strabane
BT82 9CA	55
Melmount Foods Ltd.
Unit F965
Dublin Road Industrial Estate
Strabane
County Tyrone	35
Octopus Sportswear
Ballycolman Avenue
Strabane
BT82 9AF	53
Roulston & McLaughlin NI Ltd.
2 Drumquin Road
Castlederg
County Tyrone
BT81 7PX	49
Barrett Electrical
9 Gortrush Industrial Estate
Derry Road
Omagh
BT78 5EJ	50
Coolaness Private Nursing Home
Kesh Road
Irvinestown
County Fermanagh	38
Eakin James & Sons Ltd.
Dublin Road
Omagh
County Tyrone
BT78 1ET	30
Knock Na Moe Hotel Ltd.
59 Old Mountfield Road
Omagh
County Tyrone	40

	Numbers
McAleer & Teague
Dromore
County Tyrone
BT78 3AU	45
Naturelle Consumer Products Ltd.
Mountjoy Road
Omagh
County Tyrone
BT79 7EQ	52
Omagh & District Advice Centres and Projects
9 Holmview Terrace
Omagh
BT79 0AH	71
Bradley & McElhatton
25 and 31 Main Street
Mountfield
Omagh
BT79 7PY	26
Duncan & Griffin Company Limited
Silverbirch Hotel
5 Gortin Road
Omagh
County Tyrone	30
Finlay Hydrascreens Limited
Drumquin Road
Omagh
County Tyrone
BT78 5PN	145
Master Meat Packers Limited
52 Doogary Road
Omagh
County Tyrone
BT79 0BQ	85
Moffatts (Drumquin) Limited
61 Drumscra Road
Drumquin
Omagh	61
Nestle Company Limited
46 Beltany Road
Omagh
County Tyrone
BT78 3NF	173
North West of Ireland Printing & Publishing Company Limited
John Street
Omagh
County Tyrone
BT78 1DT	44
Omaglass Limited
Gortrush Industrial Estate
Derry Road
Omagh
BT78	66
Scott T. W. & Sons (Fuels Limited)
51 Curr Road
Beragh
Omagh
BT79 0UW	34

Omagh District Council Area
	Numbers
Shergrim Limited
Gortrush Industrial Estate
Derry Road
Omagh
County Tyrone
BT78 5EJ	26
Royal Arms Hotel
51–53 High Street
Omagh
BT78 1BA	41
St. Vincent De Paul Ace Scheme
11 Holmview Terrace
Campsie
Omagh	30
Alexander W. & Sons
39 William Street
Cookstown
BT80 8BD	32
Blue Circle Cement
29 Sandholes Road
Cookstown
County Tyrone
BT80 9AP	182
Cookstown Community Renewal Projects Limited
16E Old town Street
Cookstown
County Tyrone
BT80 8EF	105
Drapersfield House
19 Drapersfield Road
Cookstown
County Tyrone
BT80 8PS	26
Tyrone Constitution
25–27 High Street
Omagh
BT78 1BD	34
Scott W.& C. Limited
9 Mountjoy Road
Omagh
County Tyrone
BT79 7AD	43
Woodlock Joinery Limited
3 Killybrack Road
Omagh
County Tyrone
BT79 7DG	75
Ardboe Manufacturing Co. Ltd.
T/A Forbes Kitchens & Forbes Furniture
Ardboe Coagh
Stewartstown
County Tyrone
BT71 5AX	63
Cookstown Community Projects Ltd.
Drum Road
Cookstown
County Tyrone	58
Fairfields Nursing Home
Fairhill Road
Cookstown
BT80 8RB	35

	Numbers
Hilton Meats (Cookstown) Ltd.
Derryloran Industrial Estate
Cookstown
County Tyrone
BT80 8UJ	46
Glenavon Hotel (1982) Ltd.
52 Drum Road
Cookstown
County Tyrone
BT80 3JQ	43
MacMahon Mr. J. J. (Building Contractor) Ltd.
4 Loy Street
Cookstown
County Tyrone
BT80 8PE	47
Marina Private Nursing Home
Shore Road
Ballyronan
Magherafelt
BT45 6JA	30
Milton Thom
Royal Hotel
64 Coagh Street
Cookstown
BT80 8NG	26
Mallon Brothers
Unit 6 Derryloran Industrial Estate
Sandholes Road
Cookstown
BT80 9LU	29
McAleer & Rushe Ltd.
24 Dungannon Road
Cookstown
County Tyrone
BT80 8TL	43
Orr W. G. (UK) Ltd.
45 Ruskey road
Coagh
Cookstown
County Tyrone
BT80 0AH	40

Cookstown District Council Area
	Numbers
O'Neill Engineering
48 Ballygittle Road
Stewartstown
County Tyrone	26
Viper International
Orritor Road
Cookstown
County Tyrone
BT80 8BL	45
Unipork Limited
70 Molesworth Road
Cookstown
County Tyrone
BT80 8PJ	794
St. Vincent de Paul Ace Scheme
35 Loy Street
Cookstown
County Tyrone
BT80 8PZ	50
Quinns of Cookstown Limited
7 Sandholes Road
Cookstown
County Tyrone
BT80 9AR	51

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what discussions have taken place about the proposed rationalisation of the primary school sector within the Southern education and library board;(2) what consultations have been held with the school principals within the primary school sector in the controlled section about the proposals for rationalisation in the Southern education and library board.

The proposed rationalisation of schools is a matter in the first instance for either the education and library board in the case of controlled schools or the school authority in the case of voluntary schools. I am not aware of any discussions within the Southern board or between the board and primary school principals on proposed rationalisation, but I understand that the board has established a sub-committee to examine current school places.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what representations he has received about the proposed rationalisation of the primary school sector within the Southern education and library board.

I have received one letter from the hon. Gentleman.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions have taken place about the introduction of financial assistance in respect of the provisions of fencing at agricultural holdings in Northern Ireland.

Grants are available for fencing on agricultural holdings under both the United Kingdom farm and conservation grant scheme and the Northern Ireland agricultural development programme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what further action will be taken to promote the Northern Ireland sheep industry and the sale of Northern Irish lamb.

The Livestock Marketing Commission for Northern Ireland is mainly responsible for market promotion and is intensifying its efforts, particularly in relation to export markets.The Department of Agriculture is supporting the development of a high-quality product through its promotional programmes and various schemes including breeding schemes and its education and advisory services.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many members there are on the Southern health and social services board; how many of these members selected by him are non-elected members; what arrangements he makes for flying the union flag at its various premises; and why it was not flown at Tower Hill hospital, Armagh, on 2 June.

There are currently 25 places on the Southern health and social services board, one of which is vacant.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give the number of dedicated energy managers in his Department and the number of person-years devoted to energy management in the latest year.

[holding answer 5 June 1990]: There is one dedicated energy manager in the Northern Ireland energy conservation unit for the Northern Ireland Government office estate. Three person-years were devoted to energy management in this estate by the unit in 1989–90.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make it his policy to require Magnox operators to backfit at site dry storage facilities for spent fuel; and if he will make a statement.

No. This is a matter for the operators of the Magnox stations. Neither Nuclear Electric nor British Nuclear Fuels have any such plans.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy which countries, not being signatories of the non-proliferation treaty, have received nuclear technology from the United Kingdom since 1985.

No export licence has been issued since 1985 for the export of nuclear technology to countries which are not signatories to the non-proliferation treaty. The guidelines for all United Kingdom nuclear exports remain as set out by the then Foreign Secretary now Lord Callaghan on 31 March 1976 at columns 514–16, which has been reaffirmed by the Prime Minister. These guidelines ensure that our nuclear exports are fully consistent with our international non-proliferation obligations under the non-proliferation treaty.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Southwark and Bermondsey, Official Report, 23 May, column 207, what amounts by weight and volume of (a) high-level waste, (b) intermediate-level waste, (c) low-level waste, (d) reusable plutonium and (e) reusable uranium he estimates will result from the reprocessing of (i) the Magnox fuel and (ii) the spent oxide fuel awaiting reprocessing at Sellafield at 31 March.

Detailed information on the quantities of materials arising from reprocessing is a matter for British Nuclear Fuels plc.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what discussions he has had with the chairman of Nuclear Electric concerning the review and revaluation of nuclear reprocessing contracts inherited from the Central Electricity Generating Board.

My right hon. Friend meets the chairman of Nuclear Electric regularly to discuss aspects of the nuclear industry. Reprocessing contracts between Nuclear Electric and British Nuclear Fuels are a commercial matter for the parties concerned.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to bring forward proposals at the fourth review conference of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty in August-September, for a multilateral programme for the long-term management of spent nuclear fuel, vitrified high-level wastes and the decommissioning of nuclear facilities developed under bilateral or multilateral nuclear technology transfer under the provision of article IV of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.

No.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he has agreed the definition adopted for the detection time concerning the diversion of nuclear materials from intended peaceful uses, by the safeguards authorities of the International Atomic Energy Agency; and if he will make a statement.

The definition of detection time is given in paragraph 108 of the "IAEA Safeguards Glossary" 1987 edition—ref. IAEA/SG/INF/1 (Rev. 1)—a copy of which is available in the Library of the House. This definition is accepted by the member states of the International Atomic Energy Agency, including the United Kingdom.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what developments have taken place since 1985 in safeguards to ensure that non-nuclear weapons states acquiring reprocessing facilities do not use plutonium for military purposes.

We have full confidence in the safeguards arrangements which are currently applied by the International Atomic Energy Agency which has reported no evidence of diversion of civil nuclear material to non-peaceful use.In recent years there has been a series of meetings to consider the application of safeguards techniques to large-scale commercial reprocessing plants, in which the United Kingdom has been involved; this programme is continuing. Furthermore, the United Kingdom has, since 1981, carried out a safeguards research and development programme, which is funded to the sum of approximately £1 million annually, in support of the International Atomic Energy Agency. A substantial proportion of this programme is devoted to the development of techniques relevant to the safeguarding of reprocessing plants.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether he has received the inspector's report from the Hinkley Point C public inquiry; and when he intends to announce his decision on Nuclear Electric's application and to publish the report.

I have just received the inspector's report. I shall not be in a position to reach a decision on Nuclear Electric's application until I have thoroughly considered it, but I hope to reach this position by the late summer.The normal procedure for planning inquiries is for the inspector's report to be published at the same time as my Decision. I intend to follow this procedure in the case of the Hinkley Point C inquiry.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what are the implications for the three-year agreement between the electricity supply industry and Electricité de France as part of the non-fossil fuel obligation as a result of current electricity output reductions in France; and if he will make a statement.

The agreements between Electricité de France and the public electricity supply companies are not part of the non-fossil fuel obligation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what criteria were considered when fixing the limit of 30 mm for topping-up loft insulation within the home energy efficiency scheme.

The reference to 30 mm was in the consultation paper issued by the Energy Efficiency Office in February. The figure is that used previously for the homes insulation scheme. A number of representations concerning that level of insulation have been received as a result of the consultation process and are currently being considered.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether he proposes to pay Kleinwort its full fees for the advice it gave on the privatisation of nuclear power.

Kleinwort Benson's fees for the relevant periods have been paid in full.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he expects to announce the price of shares in the electricity distribution companies.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will announce the price of the shares in the 12 regional electricity companies on impact day. It is expected that will be during November 1990.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when the television advertising campaign to sell the electricity distribution companies will commence.

Advertising to publicise the offer for sale of the 12 regional electricity companies will be undertaken to inform the public of the forthcoming flotations. It would be premature to set out provisional plans, which are subject to matters that will not be resolved until much nearer the time of flotations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he expects to have the estimated total of expenditure on advertising the sale of the electricity distribution companies.

I have nothing further to add to the answers that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State gave to the hon. Member on 1 May and 6 June 1990.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether he anticipates the Energy Efficiency Office announcing plans to include cavity wall insulation, electrical appliances and hot water tank thermostats within the home energy efficiency scheme.

The possible inclusion of additional energy efficiency measures within the home energy efficiency scheme was an area on which a number of comments were received as a result of the recent consultation process. Those comments are currently being considered.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether he has any plans to implement a minimum standard of knowledge for the energy advisers to be operating under the home energy efficiency scheme.

A number of those responding to the recent consultation paper on the home energy efficiency scheme commented on the need for standards for the provision of energy advice. Those comments are currently being considered.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what further capital investment will be required by British Nuclear Fuels plc to meet its contractual obligations to the owners of foreign nuclear fuel to be reprocessed in Britain;(2) what capital has been invested by British Nuclear Fuels plc to enable it to reprocess foreign nuclear fuel in Britain.

British Nuclear Fuels plc has reprocessing contracts for both Magnox fuel and thermal oxide fuel. Magnox fuel is reprocessed in facilities constructed for the United Kingdom's own Magnox reactors and no significant additional capital investment has been necessary to reprocess foreign fuel.British Nuclear Fuels plc thermal oxide reprocessing plant is being constructed to store and reprocess both United Kingdom and foreign thermal oxide fuel. Several of the associated plants for the treatment of wastes arising from THORP reprocessing will also treat wastes from Magnox fuel. British Nuclear Fuels plc estimates that the allocation of capital investment for the storage, reprocessing and waste management of foreign thermal oxide fuel to date is £1,100 million with £600 million still to be spent.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what is the estimated value of British Nuclear Fuels plc contracts to reprocess foreign nuclear fuel in Britain in the current year and each succeeding year up to 1995;(2) what is the estimated total value of British Nuclear Fuels plc contracts to reprocess foreign nuclear fuel in Britain;(3) what is the longest period of any contract entered into by British Nuclear Fuels Ltdplc to reprocess foreign nuclear fuel in Britain.

BNFL's estimated turnover relating to storage, reprocessing and waste treatment still to be performed on foreign nuclear fuel is around £4 billion, excluding £0·75 billion from the series of contracts which BNFL is currently completing with West German utilities. More detailed information on contracts is a matter for the company.

To ask the Attorney-General what is the average period of time taken by the Director of Public Prosecutions in processing complaints by prisoners against police officers in specific cases; and if he will make a statement.

Records of the time taken to process such cases are not kept. However, all such cases are processed as swiftly as possible. The time taken for any particular case depends on the complexity and size of the case. Simple straightforward cases are normally processed within two weeks of receipt of the police investigation report, more complex cases within three months and the most complex and largest cases within six to 12 months.

To ask the Attorney-General whether there is a separate family division at the High Court in Northern Ireland; how many judges at the High Court deal with the family problem of custody of children and access to children following separation or divorce; how many such applications await hearing in the High Court; and if he has any proposals to shorten the time required before such cases are heard in the High Court.

A separate family division of the High Court in Northern Ireland was created by the Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978. The business of the family division is assigned to one of the judges of the High Court who is assisted by other judges of the Supreme Court as necessary. All 10 High Court judges hear petitions for divorce and judicial separation and deal with questions of custody of and access to children arising therefrom.There are two custody applications awaiting hearing and one access application listed for hearing in the week beginning 11 June 1990.

To ask the Attorney-General what are the arrangements for flying the union flag at the court house in Armagh city; and why it was not flown on 2 June.

An attempt was made by the office manager to fly the union flag at Armagh court house on 2 June 1990, but when being hoisted it caught on barbed wire and was torn to the extent that it was rendered unusable.A new flag has been supplied and will be flown on all appropriate dates in accordance with standing instructions.

To ask the Attorney-General whether there is any proposal to make provision, in relation to the Supreme Court for the admissibility of evidence from solicitors of documents in evidence via fax machines; and if he will make a statement.

There are currently no proposals to make provision in the Supreme Court, for the admissibility of evidence from solicitors of documents in evidence via fax machines.Fax copies are unsuited for use as part of the permanent court record because of their tendency to fade. The question of filing court documents by fax will be kept under review, in particular whether technological advances will make fax copies suitable as permanent documents.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will provide details of the quantity of toxic waste imported into the United Kingdom.

The latest figure for imports of hazardous waste into the United Kingdom under the Transfrontier Shipment of Hazardous Waste Regulations for the calender year 1989, is 41,554 tonnes. This figure is an update of the one given in the written answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Norfolk, North-West (Mr. Bellingham) on 21 March 1990, Official Report columns 684–85, taking into account additional notifications received from disposers.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the Government's estimates of toxic waste imports to the United Kingdom in each of the next five years.

The Government make no estimate of future imports of hazardous waste into the United Kingdom. However, it is expected that imports from other EC member states will reduce in future years following the Council of Environment Ministers' decision in Luxembourg on 7 June 1990 that member states must aim to be self-sufficient in waste disposal.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will commission a study into the effects of prolonged drought on bird life that requires a diet of freshwater fish; and what information he has on the numbers of herons observed fishing in the sea along the south coast.

There is no evidence that the risk to birds from the effects of drought is so significant as to justify commissioning a study. Populations of herons and other waterways birds are monitored annually. I have no information about the extent to which herons fish in the sea, but I understand that it is not unusual.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the research centre at Monkswood has within the last 12 months examined any sea birds for evidence of glycol poisoning; and if he will make a statement.

The Institute of Terrestrial Ecology's Monkswood experimental station—part of the natural environment research council—has not examined any sea-birds for evidence of glycol poisoning in the past 12 months.In 1988 the institute carried out analysis and post mortem studies on a number of birds found dead in the Bacton area of Norfolk. No single cause of death could be found at post mortem and none of the chemical or metal residues found in the birds could, taken singly, be considered to have caused death. Tests for glycol residues were inconclusive, although glycols are not generally considered to be especially toxic to vertebrates. No further incidents have been brought to the institute's attention.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give the number of planning appeals made to his Department against decisions made by each local authority in Greater Manchester in (a) 1985, (b) 1986, (c) 1987, (d) 1988 and (e) 1989, together with the number of appeals upheld in each year against each authority.

The information requested is as follows:

Appeals 1985–86
Local authority	Received	Decided	Allowed
Greater Manchester	4	4	0
Bolton	58	51	22
Bury	20	9	3
Manchester	28	21	10
Oldham	31	31	10
Rochdale	20	15	6
Salford	29	21	9
Stockport	42	39	14
Tameside	29	29	12
Trafford	57	44	20
Wigan	49	22	8

Appeals 1986–87
Local authority	Received	Decided	Allowed
Greater Manchester	2	5	1
Bolton	53	53	27
Bury	28	23	9

Local authority	Received	Decided	Allowed
Manchester	30	21	9
Oldham	34	31	11
Rochdale	21	16	3
Salford	30	28	9
Stockport	60	46	20
Tameside	44	30	15
Trafford	45	41	20
Wigan	38	39	13

Appeals 1987–88
Local authority	Received	Decided	Allowed
Greater Manchester	—	1	0
Bolton	60	60	26
Bury	28	31	11
Manchester	17	22	11
Oldham	22	24	10
Rochdale	30	30	16
Salford	25	20	11
Stockport	51	46	16
Tameside	53	50	20
Trafford	54	34	16
Wigan	51	44	18

Appeals 1988–89
Local authority	Received	Decided	Allowed
Greater Manchester	—	1	0
Bolton	53	47	19
Bury	26	23	9
Manchester	22	14	6
Oldham	29	23	5
Rochdale	36	24	13
Salford	26	19	13
Stockport	55	47	17
Tameside	53	55	32
Trafford	63	44	18
Wigan	49	52	18

Appeals 1989–90
Local authority	Received	Decided	Allowed
Greater Manchester	—	—	—
Bolton	63	47	22
Bury	33	24	11
Manchester	38	21	9
Oldham	41	32	10
Rochdale	41	36	15
Salford	33	22	11
Stockport	80	61	27
Tameside	61	43	24
Trafford	64	48	21
Wigan	51	29	9

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many cases there have been in the last 12 months where developers have been found liable for costs after they have pursued appeals against refusals properly substantiated by policies in up-to-date development plans.

During the 12 months from 1 June 1989 to 31 May 1990, my right hon. Friend and planning inspectors awarded the planning authority's appeal costs against an appellant in 53 cases, where the appellant's "unreasonable" behaviour, as interpreted in DOE circular 2/87, caused the planning authority to incur costs unnecessarily. These awards were justified by the circumstances in each case; and I regret that an analysis of cases in which the award was based solely on inconsistency with an up-to-date development plan could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to introduce legislation for the enfranchisement of leaseholders of flats.

I have no immediate plans to do so. As the law stands, freehold tenure does not provide a sound basis for the ownership of flats. The concept of commonhold is being developed with a view to overcoming this problem, but a number of important issues remain to be resolved. I understand that my right hon. and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor intends to make a statement on the subject in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what support Her Majesty's Government are giving to proposals for a European Community centre of studies of climatic change; and if he will make a statement on the results of discussions held in Madrid for this purpose.

There is at present no European Community proposal for a centre for climate change studies. The directors of western European meteorological services have recently established an ad-hoc working group, which first met in Madrid on 5 and 6 June to consider possible initiatives for co-ordinating their activities on climate change issues. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister opened the new Hadley centre for climate prediction and research on 25 May. This will build on the leading work of the United Kingdom Meteorological Office, and international co-operation will be an important part of its remit.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what would be the cost to the Treasury of industrial derating for manufacturing industries.

The aggregate rate liability of factories, mills, works and workshops in England and Wales in 1990–91, subject to transition, is around £2·1 billion.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what limit he can impose on the amounts that firms situated in enterprise zones may offset against any taxable benefit tied to that location in respect of other enterprises outside such zones making losses.

None. The circumstances in which tax relief available in enterprise zones can be utilised is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to ensure that information on low-level ozone build-up is released automatically to the press and public on a daily basis wherever it exceeds World Health Organisation air quality guidelines.

Information on ozone levels is already automatically released through the Department's press office, as I said in the answer I gave on Tuesday 24 April 1990 to the hon. Member for Southwark and Bermondsey, (Mr. Hughes) at column 121. So far this year, 27 daily summaries have been released and many requests for information have been received.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made in implementation of the provisions for repurchase by housing associations of low-cost houses.

The Department is anxious to ensure that shared ownership housing association schemes on scarce sites in rural communities continue to benefit local people with modest means. We are now considering proposals from the Housing Corporation for a housing association rural repurchase scheme, which it is hoped to introduce shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what progress has been made in reclassifying psychiatric student nurses as students for the purposes of the community charge;(2) if he will now reconsider the definition or classification of student nurses for the purpose of the community charge.

The eligibility criteria for the student relief are set out in the Personal Community Charge (Students) Regulations 1989—S.I. 1989/443. They already provide that students on undergraduate nursing courses and those undertaking Project 2000 training will be eligible for the student relief. Over the next few years the Project 2000 scheme will be extended to cover all pre-registration nursing trainees at schools of nursing, including those training for psychiatric nursing.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of percentage price increases in the cost of living each year for the next five years in Scotland, Wales, northern England, southern England and south-east England due to the uniform business rate.

In fixing the national non-domestic rate poundages for England and Wales for 1990–91 the Government have aimed to raise in real terms from private businesses and the nationalised industries broadly the same amount in rates as they paid in 1989–90. In future years, the poundage cannot, by law, rise by more than the level of inflation. The new system is therefore not inflationary. There is no uniform business rate in Scotland, though my right hon. and learned Friend has taken powers to harmonise the local poundages there with the non-domestic rate poundage in England over a period of years.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what response he proposes to make to the announcement by West Germany of a ban on the domestic use and production of chlorofluorocarbons by 1995, and the banning of the use of halogenated hydrocarbons in hand-held extinguishers and on the use of carbon tetrachloride and methyl chloroforms as solvents by 1992; and if he will make a statement.

Future international controls on ozone depleting substances will be decided at the meeting of the Montreal protocol parties in London at the end of this month. In the light of the results of that meeting, member states of the European Community will discuss what measures to impose within the Community, consistent with the operation of the single European market.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he proposes to introduce a Bill to implement the Montreal protocol proposals to cause a reduction in the use of chlorofluorocarbons and halons.

The Montreal protocol is implemented on a Community wide basis by EC regulation 3322/88, which is directly applicable in United Kingdom law. The Commission has proposed a new regulation aimed at implementing the changes to the protocol which should be agreed at the end of this month. Member states will consider the draft regulation in the light of the changes which are actually agreed—we expect to complete the process by the end of 1990.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish the implementation, proposed to be drawn up within three months, of the North sea conference on 8 March.

I hope to publish the Government's guidance note on implementation of the third North sea conference within the next month.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will delay implementation of the new scheme for means-tested grants for people with disabilities until local authorities have received full information on the scheme.

The new scheme will be introduced on 1 July by which time local authorities will have received full information by way of Departmental circulars.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from Hands of Calderdale as part of the consultation process on proposed procedures for means-testing home improvement grants for people with disabilities; and if he will be responding to their questions.

The Department received a letter from Hands of Calderdale in response to the consultation exercise on the test of resources for the new disabled facilities grants being introduced under part VIII of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989. Their comments were considered along with those of other consultees in finalising the test of resources regulations.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table which, allowing for recent adjustments to the Housing Corporation's capital programme, shows for 1989–90, 1990–91, 1991–92 and 1992–93 (a) the number of housing association new approvals and (b) the number of housing association completions.

[holding answer 12 June 1990]: The Housing Corporation is currently discussing with housing associations the implications of recent adjustments to the corporation's capital programme for the level of approvals and completions over the next three years. The Housing Corporation has already indicated that housing association completions in 1990–91 are expected to exceed earlier forecasts. Thereafter, massive expansion in the output of new homes is still expected.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what pollutants have recently been found in the water supply to the Norman Shaw North parliamentary office building; and what action has been taken to remove them.

[holding answer 12 June 1990]: Following a complaint about the quality of drinking water in the building, samples were tested by the laboratory of the Government chemist. Those taken from the supply to the Embankment side of the building were found to contain coli-aerogenes. Remedial action was taken. Further tests samples taken on 5 June 1990 contained no coli-aerogenes and the supply has now been reinstated.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the latest information he has as to how many new jobs in Sunderland have been created by the activities of the Tyne and Wear development corporation, from its inception.

[holding answer 13 June 1990]: To date, 1,138 jobs have been created in Sunderland through the activities of the Tyne and Wear development corporation.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he has taken to test the accuracy of job creation forecasts given to his Department by Tyne and Wear Development Corporation.

[holding answer 13 June 1990]: The corporation is well aware of the advice issued by the Department about job-creation figures and I have every confidence that the appropriate techniques are being applied.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his current estimate of the cost to Her Majesty's Government of the Sunderland enterprise zone, broken down into (a) rate relief and (b) capital allowances.